The Alphabet Movie Meme

The awesome Abbi over at Where the Wild Things Are posted her alphabet this week and I couldn’t resist doing mine! It all originated at The Drama Llama and it’s a movie meme post where each letter of the alphabet is used as a theme or question to answer about your love of movies.

Book adaptation I’d like to see

Damned by Chuck Palahniuk. Adaptations of his books have been hit (Fight Club) and miss (Choke), and portraying his vision of Hell on the screen would be a daunting task, to say the least. But if someone could pull it off, it’d be great. The author has described his own novel as “if The Shawshank Redemption had a baby by The Lovely Bones and it was raised by Judy Blume” and “it’s kind of like The Breakfast Club set in Hell.”

Celebrity I’d most like to meet

There are literally thousands of celebrities I’d like to meet but there’s no question as to who is at the top of that list: Queen Meryl, of course. Runner up: Justin Timberlake.

Dream actor-director pairing

Continuing with the Streep love, if Meryl became a “chica Almodóvar”, my brain would explode. Please make this happen, Universe.

Essential classic film

The Philadelphia Story: three legends (Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart) in a hilarious movie with splendid acting and writing.

Favourite film franchise

I am in love with the world of Harry Potter that J.K. Rowling created and the movies perfected, so this was an incredibly easy pick. Honorable mentions: The ‘Dark Knight’ and ‘Before’ trilogies.

Genre I watch the most

I’m a drama junkie. I don’t know, but I love when certain movies make you suffer. It’s almost therapeutic in a way. I’m a masochist, I guess.

Hidden gem

I’ve been a champion of Pleasantville ever since I stumbled upon it on TV and fell instantly in love. A poignant allegory on racial segregation, it’s a beautiful movie with an incredible cast, but nobody seems to know it exists.

Important film moment in my life

The moment I watched Kill Bill, Vol. I. It was when it hit me what a beautiful thing cinema was and fell head-over-heels in love with the medium. It’s still my favorite movie. Check out my appreciation post here.

Just right for a rainy day

Well, duh.

Kiddie movie I still shamelessly enjoy

This glorious thing.

Location I’d most like to visit

Marathons I’ve watched

Well, I did watch all the films in the Harry Potter franchise again in preparation for Deathly Hallows Pt. II, but I saw them in the course of, like, a week. So I don’t think that counts as a marathon.

Netflix movie I watched

Nothing here, folks. Sorry.

One movie I saw in theatres more than once

I saw Ratatouille about four times during its theatre run. I fell in love (and still am) with that film, which I consider my favorite animated movie.

Preferred place to watch a movie

Nothing beats the theater, and the larger the screen, the better. But there’s the possibility of a dark projection, poor sound or, most annoyingly, noisy people, which can put a damper on the experience. So I’ll have to go with my room, a cup of coffee or tea in hand and a dim light on.

haha this is a really cool concept/list. Nice work Fernando. Highlights for me are: X (yes, I think Miss WInslett was the first boobies scene I ever saw too); V (i’m goddamn excited for awards season, so it would have to go in the ‘G’ part of this list); and of course, A. . . Interstellar should be amazing and I cannot wait for that.

Wasn’t there a similar blogathon like this a few years back? Anyway, I’ll just go ahead and answer here; I might participate officially, I might not.

Anticipating movie of 2014
– The Grand Budapest Hotel, though to be fair, I had no clue David Fincher was returning with Gone Girl, so I’ll include that too.
Book adaptation I’d like to see
– 11/22/63. Read that a few years back, still think it’s Stephen King’s best book, and if it hasn’t been made to a movie yet, I’m just hoping that means they’re trying to find the right director who will make it into the perfect movie. (Probably not, but I’m dying to see it anyway.)
Celebrity I’d most like to meet
– Can I go for doubles? Woody Allen and Quentin Tarantino. Both superb actors, directors, writers (especially), comedians…
Dream actor-director pairing
– Jack Nicholson and Quentin Tarantino. If Jack Nicholson doesn’t retire, as it already looks like he has (he hasn’t made a movie in four years! AAAH!), it’s a possibility.
Essential classic film
– The Birth of a Nation. Gripping for all three hours, 99 years old, the best American movie ever made. (And, admittedly, a completely un-American movie, but I’d rather not pitch it to people that way.)
Favorite film franchise
– I’d have to go with James Bond. The first twenty can be really cheesy and still fun. Been having a “reverse marathon” (exactly what it sounds like–start with Skyfall, end at Dr. No) since I got the Bond 50 Blu-ray box set on Christmas. Still thrilled by that gift that keeps giving.
Genre I watch the most
– Crime genre and comedy genre. I have a really high inclination to watch those. Comedy-dramas, as well.
Hidden gem
– If this is something that (in your words) is “a beautiful movie…but nobody seems to know it exists,” then I’ll go with About Schmidt. Honestly, my parents hadn’t even heard of it, and they enjoy Kathy Bates.
Important film moment in my life
– The time I watched Jaws. I think that was my first Spielberg movie, so it must’ve been my first introduction to real movies.
Just right for a rainy day
– Lost in Translation. Such a quiet, beautiful movie.
Kiddie movie I still shamelessly enjoy
– Oh god my childhood has faded/been destroyed by all these hard-R movies! And I haven’t even seen Mary Poppins! :0 I must fix this.
Location I’d most lke to visit
– Paris, but I’m going there over spring break for school. 😀
Marathons I’ve watched
– I did a back-to-back Batman Begins and The Dark Knight around the time The Dark Knight Rises came out. I did a Bond marathon before I started my blog and am doing it again currently. I watched Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight straight through. I did a Harry Potter marathon once but it was interrupted here and there and did not seem to include the last two movies. Let’s see…that might be it.
Netflix movie I watched
– When?
One movie I saw in theatres more than once
– Never done so, actually.
Preferred place to watch a movie
– The theater, but if I’m taking notes, or I can’t find the right seat, the basement.
Quote that inspires me
– “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” Just kidding. I’ll go with: “The path of righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and good will shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger, those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers! And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee!”
Remakes, friend or foe?
– Eh. Either, I guess.
Snacks I enjoy the most
– Popcorn
Twists that boggled my mind
– I’m not sure. The supposed logic in the Safe Haven twist ending boggled my mind. I’m not really a fan of twist endings… Oh yeah and that one in Anchorman 2. Really bizarre.
Unapologetic fanhuman for
– Jack Nicholson
Very excited for awards season?
– God, yes.
Wish I had never watched
– Movie 43
XXX movie I first watched at a young age (R or NC-17!)
– I think my first R-rated movie was Psycho, and I was 12. Kind of a bland answer to this question. (Note: What is Kate Winslet’s obsession with stripping onscreen, not to mention, at the risk of letting 7-year-olds see her movies? I turned off The Reader fifteen minutes in yesterday because there was more nudity than story.)
Your latest movie-related obsession
– Blue Jasmine. MUST SEE IT.
ZZZ-Catchers (a movie that put you to sleep)
– The first to come to mind is some foreign movie called “Legend of the Red Dragon” or something like that. Was a martial arts movie I watched back in fifth grade, I think. Wasn’t into movies like I am now, so I didn’t try to stay awake.

I should add that I’ve kind of lost count of how many times I’ve seen Pulp Fiction. If that’s rereleased this year (I mean they need to do something for the 20th anniversary), I’ll be going to the theater at least three times.

Glad you take part in this too, Fernando! I’m hoping to do it later this month. Oooh Hiddles, who doesn’t love that guy! I still need to see Pleasantville, can’t believe I haven’t seen it yet, and I love Joan Allen.